Grace Christian Academy student named National Merit® Scholarship Semifinalist

Franklin, Tennessee (September 12, 2018) – Grace Christian Academy of Leipers Fork, Tennessee is excited to announce that high school senior, Sidney Hauk has received the honor of being named a Semifinalist in the 64th annual National Merit® Scholarship Program. She is the first student from Grace Christian Academy to attain this title. The announcement came September 12 from the National Merit® Scholarship Corporation.

Of the 1.6 million entrants in this academic competition, she is among approximately 16,000 students nationwide to receive this honor, and has the opportunity to continue to compete for the National Merit® Scholarships and advance to Finalist standing. As a Semifinalist, Hauk is considered one of the highest scoring entrants from our state on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

“Grace Christian Academy is very proud of the accomplishments of senior student Sidney Hauk,” said Richard Anderson, High School Principal of Grace Christian Academy. “Sidney embodies the triangular partnership in which GCA operates—that of home, church, and school all speaking into the lives of our students. Sidney is obviously a hard worker academically, but also finds time to serve others, to pursue her musical and writing talents, and to be involved in her church youth group. Several prominent schools comprise Sidney’s ‘short list’ for admission—any one of them would be most blessed to receive this young lady!”

Attaining Finalist standing in the competition requires meeting high academic standards and fulfilling a number of additional requirements in the application process, including but not limited to, involvement in community activities and proven leadership skills. The Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from the Finalists next spring, thereby earning the Merit Scholar title.

Grace Christian Academy also applauds senior students Christian Rhodes and Mattie Van Mason for their achievement of being named as National Merit Commended students. To receive this status, Rhodes and Mason were among the top two-thirds of the highest scorers on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, and have been recognized with this honor for their outstanding academic promise.